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Wednesday, July 20, 2011

A walk through the vines

I have this thing for vineyards. I find them so absolutely beautiful in every stage they’re in. They look beautifully eerie in the winter and lush, soft and full of life in the summer. It’s easy to love them even more since I live around a whole bunch of them. Many vineyards around me actually make raisins for Sunmade and I hope to capture those stages in the future.

The other day, however, I was intent on taking pictures of my friend’s vineyard (who coincidentally does raisins) yet, she wasn’t home. But determined I was, and set out any way to find a random vineyard.

I always get nervous when I think of pulling over to take pictures. I don’t like to be ‘seen’ and the fact that people driving by will see me with my camera gets me very uncomfortable. In fact, anyone EVER seeing me at any point, makes me uncomfortable. Amazing I wanted to be a model right?!

I’ve always been one to hunch my shoulders forward to drop a few inches so I wouldn’t stick out so much or blend in with neutral clothes or stay toward the back so I’m not visible to others. Even though people are zooming by and probably won’t think of me 5 seconds after seeing me, it still keeps me from pulling over to get a picture.

And naturally, the one time prior I DID pull over to take pictures of a vineyard at sunset, a car honked at me…which I hated and proved my point of people ‘seeing me’ at which point I promptly jumped back in my car and drove off.

But thankfully I found this absolutely stunning (to me) vineyard. The kind where I can walk through and get lost in. The kind that are taller than me and looks like trees flowing with grapes that you could just reach and pluck off the vine to savor…and did I mention it was on a side street off the main road!? –mmmhhmm, my kind of vineyard!

After taking a few from the outside, I became bold and walked in between 2 rows and oh the fun I had. I got lost in there, taking so many pictures. No one could see me and I didn’t feel an ounce of pain as I was squatting and walking through the dirt. It was joyous. I felt God’s beauty while I was in there and kept talking to Him as I snapped away.

Whew, a lot, right? If it’s a bit of an overload for you, just know I look through these at least 5 times a day, I’m that enamored with them right now (and yes, I have some that I've kept from you). I don’t know when the last time was that I had so much joy as I did taking these. I loved it.

and for the record, I didn’t touch or disturb anything in this vineyard.

John 15:5”I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”

My Hubby says the best thing about CA is the vineyards. He worked there for a few months one year. Not in a vineyard, but CA. I want to go someday.GORGEOUS pictures. You caught the magical light. I want to email you today. Gonna do my best, promise.

Vineyards are gorgeous! And I love the ones in Sonoma =D These pictures are beautiful. And I'm like you, I don't like getting out of my car when I see beautiful scenes because I don't want other drivers to see me.

Great pictures Em!! My#1 fav was the sun over the vineyard pic. Then I loved the one where you must have been kneeling but you captured the fullness of the vineyard and it looked so lush!!! Great job!!!